Liam couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that something was amiss with Nicole. Her withdrawal, her distant demeanor—it weighed heavily on his heart.
He knew they needed time alone to communicate and sort things out, but his responsibilities as Alpha kept pulling him in different directions.
As the pack gathered for their daily training, Liam made a quick decision. He needed an excuse to create a window of opportunity to talk to Nicole without raising any suspicions. Turning to James, he whispered in his ear, and their plan quickly formulated.
"James, I need you to lead the pack in their training today," Liam said, projecting his voice for all to hear. "I have to check on the troops and make sure everything is in order. I trust you to handle things here."
James nodded, understanding the unspoken message. "Don't worry, Alpha. I'll take care of it. You go do what you need to do."